CD Reviews

Here's yr warning

V. Berrini | NJ, United States | 02/06/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Thanks to U2 for inspiration"....that little sleeve note should serve as a red flag for all hardcore purists who stumble into this (and other mid-period 7 Seconds albums) expecting another The Crew. You ain't gonna get that here, kids, and chances are, you may hate what you do get.Kevin later denied being influenced much by U2, but the vocals and arrangements here certainly indicate otherwise. Much of this bears more than a passing resemblence to Boy/October/War-era U2 with a slightly more pronounced pop sensibility, with the occasional trad loud-fast hardcore song ("Still Believe", "New Wind") thrown in for good measure. That said, I find this album fascinating. New Wind is a true example of expanding the boundries of what hardcore can be. The juxtoposition of the fast/loud songs with the more mainstream sounding ones may seem weird (or may strike closed-minded HC purists as a sellout). But then, when I first got this album at 16 years old, the fact that a member of a HC band was wearing a Slayer shirt on the inner sleeve seemed weird. But then that's what 7 Seconds is all about, and that's what makes them beautiful. Walk together, rock together indeed. 7 Seconds had something to teach us all. Some of 7 Seconds' best songs are on here ("Still Believe", "Opinion Of Feelings", and the truly transcendent "The Night Away"), and the album only falls flat on its face once, on the closing "Colour Blind Jam", a badly execued rap/dub experiment.If you can deal with this album (or heaven forbid, love it like I do), you should check out Kevin Seconds solo stuff (especially his album Stoudamire and the upcoming Heaven Is Wherever You Are), particularly if you enjoy artists like Ben Lee or Elliott Smith. Also recommended is Kevin's pop-punk outfit Go National."

A change

Eric D. Kershner | Martinez, Ga United States | 09/03/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a big 7 Seconds fan since about 1986. One of my first shows a 7 Seconds and the Circle Jerks at City Gardens in 87. A lot of people are saying this is a lame album, or it doesnt sound the same as The Crew. What's the point of a band putting out the same record over and over? I have to admit, when I bought this album when it originally was released, I was a bit confused. And when Ourselves came out, I was convinced that they had "sold out". But Listen to some of the albums to follow, and you will see that they never lost their hardcore edge! Now that I am older ( a lot older) I can appreciate what the band was doing. This album is refreshing all these years later. Now I still love Skins, Brains and Guts, but I am not as closed minded now as I was as a 16 year old straight edge punk. I see this album for what it is...a "New Wind", and the chance for a hardcore band to show that they could do more than just play the same 3 chords over and over."

Great transition album

Eric D. Kershner | 06/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is still my favourite 7 seconds album, even though they don't rock like in walk together, rock together, there is this weird positive vibe through the whole playing that really grabs you and the songs seem to flow easily, I just hate the last jamming song which makes no sense at all, but the rest is really good."

No rules right? why such backlash against "New Wind" ?

Eric D. Kershner | 12/20/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"hey all,Hardcore pioneers, 7 Seconds got so much backlash after "New Wind" was released, and much of the criticism is un-warranted.True, this album isn't fast, but Kev's lyrics are still a cut above the competition. There are some very important highlights on this album ("New Wind", "I Still Believe"), as well as some songs that aren't as successful. If H.C./Punk is about seeking a new direction and dismissing rules that don't make sense than how come 7 Seconds were under such heavy attack once they went in a different direction? I really don't think the backlash they got for "New Wind" was very fair. 7 Seconds have been together for 20 years (outlasting the majority of their peers) and even when their attempting something new they try their best. A Punk band that deserves some backlash? how about TSOL? one cannot forget their downward spiral to a Motley Crue type band! At least 7 Seconds were writing music they wholeheartedly believed in, instead of jumping on a trend."New Wind" had 7 Seconds experimenting with their creativity, and though not every track works, the ones that do continue to impact me."